Farm Aid 2016 Lesson #2: Where to Buy Your Concert Merch?

In retail we hear about the fact that on-line selling is replacing brick & mortar stores. Now that dynamic is even hitting rock concerts only lon-line sales are replacing canvas & folding table merch operations. Ten percent of the sales at the 2016 Farm Aid concert were done on-line. Wait in lines of up to 30 people and then carry your merch around all day VS whip out your phone and order on line and have it delivered to your house? That second option becomes more and more enticing to many folks out there. The repercussions for venues, merch operations, bands, and printers are unclear, but it is happening whether anyone likes it or not.

Traditional merch sales at this year’s Farm Aid

With lines of up to 50 people, buying merch isn’t always fun.

Though on-line sales are growing rapidly, 90% or more is still business conducted over a folding table or booth counter.